Past Daytona 500 pre-race concerts:
2025 Pitbull
2024 Pitbull (cancelled due to weather)
2023 Dierks Bentley
2022 Luke Combs
2021 Luke Combs (Covid limited capacity)
2020 Darius Rucker
2019 Jake Owen
2018 Rascal Flatts
2017 Lady A
2016 Florida Georgia Line
2015 Kid Rock
2014 Luke Bryan
2013 Zac Brown Band
2012 Lenny Kravitz
2011 Brad Paisley
2010 Tim McGraw
I don't like Pitbull enough to have sat out in my seat for him in the direct sun and heat of last year. I did like him enough to watch in the TV inside the facility on a couch in the shade, though. So, that is something. 😂
It seemed high energy and fun! And, like I would have enjoyed being out for it in other circumstances.
I watch on tv and to see a big name artist do a concert in the infield with a huge crowd of people around and into it always makes the 500 feel like a special event that is bigger than just the race kinda like the Super Bowl, though of course not on that level but definitely the closest thing NASCAR has to that.
I think one single time I was excited about a prerace concert artist (Matchbox Twenty at the 2024 Coke 600), and I’ve been to 30-40 races as well. I don’t care if they trot Tim Dugger out
Its a reflection of the health of the sport. It feels like with NASCAR's popularity decline big acts don't gravitate even to the biggest race of the year anymore
Yeah I feel like I’m taking crazy pills here. I’m not gonna act like I’m a big Miranda Lambert fan, but she’s a legendary act at this point and far from washed up. Idk why this subreddit acts like every country act they book is a had been or never was.
She debuted 20 years ago, she’s definitely in her legacy act era. A current relevant female star to the Gen Z/Tik Tok generation would be someone like Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, or Ella Langley.
But it seems like the Daytona 500 likes to pick stars of 10-15 years ago and not current ones
Probably because NASCAR doesn't want the pre-race concert to overshadow the race. If someone like Ella Langley, Zach Top or even Tate McRae was booked, I'm pretty sure a good chuck will show up just for the concert and leave
Might be an unpopular opinion but I feel like if Daytona had something like “The Snake Pit” at Indy they’d get a new crowd of people in to party in the infield while the race goes on. There are a bunch of people I know that have been to the Indy 500 and now watch Indycar occasionally because they had a really fun time listening to EDM/Rock music in the infield and watching the cars fly by. There’s definitely enough space and you could do stuff on the Lake as well. Plus like with the Daytona 24 you could put up like carnival rides and whatnot. I’d totally do that for a year, especially if I’ve already seen the 500 from the grandstands.
Mind you I’m from NH so the NASCAR fans here are kinda half country fans and half city people who like Rock/EDM and NASCAR, it’s an odd mix but I love it.
Just be glad it doesn't fit the "country artist you've never heard of (or haven't heard of in 10 years) or a dad rock band 30 years past their prime" mold they've used for the past few decades.
That's not too bad, I guess. Hadn't been a fan of hers since she ripped off Steve Earle to hit it big with "Gasoline," edit: "Kerosene," but she apparently made good with him and she was pretty good during the Robert Earl Keen fundraiser show for Texas Hill Country this past summer.
I usually enjoy the Bethune-Cookman Marching Band more than the big concert performers, though lol.
Past Daytona 500 pre-race concerts:
2025 Pitbull
2024 Pitbull (cancelled due to weather)
2023 Dierks Bentley
2022 Luke Combs
2021 Luke Combs (Covid limited capacity)
2020 Darius Rucker
2019 Jake Owen
2018 Rascal Flatts
2017 Lady A
2016 Florida Georgia Line
2015 Kid Rock
2014 Luke Bryan
2013 Zac Brown Band
2012 Lenny Kravitz
2011 Brad Paisley
2010 Tim McGraw
Pit bull is such an oddball in the list
I mean he was an owner of Trackhouse between 21-25
It's Florida.
Also the only one on the list who I would pay money to see (I already paid money to see Pitbull once before and it was fucking sweet)
Same, him with the live band is awesome.
I don't like Pitbull enough to have sat out in my seat for him in the direct sun and heat of last year. I did like him enough to watch in the TV inside the facility on a couch in the shade, though. So, that is something. 😂
It seemed high energy and fun! And, like I would have enjoyed being out for it in other circumstances.
I don' know 'boutchu but I feel good
Ive never really understood why people care about the prerace concert.
If there is going to be a show, wouldn’t you want a good one?
Only really matters for the people in the stands.
I watch on tv and to see a big name artist do a concert in the infield with a huge crowd of people around and into it always makes the 500 feel like a special event that is bigger than just the race kinda like the Super Bowl, though of course not on that level but definitely the closest thing NASCAR has to that.
Is she not a good singer?
I’m not saying that one way or another, just arguing why people would care.
I'm there for a race. I've been to probably 40 to 50 cup races. I've never left saying man I needed a better concert in pre-race ceremonies
I think one single time I was excited about a prerace concert artist (Matchbox Twenty at the 2024 Coke 600), and I’ve been to 30-40 races as well. I don’t care if they trot Tim Dugger out
Agreed. Ain't there for the party.
I guess it's the closest thing nascar has to the super bowl half-time show. But for other races it doesn't really matter unless you're there
Because it was packed last year for pitbull. It's the biggest race of our season. Why would you not try to get a big name talent for it.
It’s an extra thing we can bitch about.
... or Miranda Lambert
Half of the current country artists are borderline parody acts
Pop music with cowboy hats.
Its a reflection of the health of the sport. It feels like with NASCAR's popularity decline big acts don't gravitate even to the biggest race of the year anymore
Yall are crazy. Miranda Lambert is still a very relevant and very popular artist. This is a great pick.
Yeah I feel like I’m taking crazy pills here. I’m not gonna act like I’m a big Miranda Lambert fan, but she’s a legendary act at this point and far from washed up. Idk why this subreddit acts like every country act they book is a had been or never was.
NASCAR Reddit is still Reddit, lol. That said, if it had to be a country star, I'd have preffered Combs returning.
She debuted 20 years ago, she’s definitely in her legacy act era. A current relevant female star to the Gen Z/Tik Tok generation would be someone like Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, or Ella Langley.
But it seems like the Daytona 500 likes to pick stars of 10-15 years ago and not current ones
Ella Langley would be chefs kiss
Probably because NASCAR doesn't want the pre-race concert to overshadow the race. If someone like Ella Langley, Zach Top or even Tate McRae was booked, I'm pretty sure a good chuck will show up just for the concert and leave
SMI literally booked Zach Top in 2024 for the Atlanta pre race and everyone stayed for the races
People also stayed for the Indycar races at Iowa
all 2000 of them
85k people showed up over both days for the 2023 weekend bud
talking about 2025 in which there was a concert.
No, there was not.
yes. yes there was. https://www.indycaratiowa.com/schedule/sunday-july-13-2025
And artists of that top tier aren't doing a 45 minute pre race concert that fans get for free.
They are if you pay them.
And that’s still tickets sold.
To be fair the Super Bowl went with Dr Dre a few years ago, so it’s not just a NASCAR thing
She is not that relevant these days, I can't think of the last time I actually heard a Miranda Lambert song in public
If you’re on country radio or a country bar, you will hear Gunpowder & Lead. If you don’t frequent either, then you won’t. Just how it is.
Could be worse, but she would have been much more relevant pick 10-15 years ago
An actually good pick for once
I guess this Daytona 500 won't be "Bringing Back the Sunshine"- IYKYK
Just as a warning, if you complain that NASCAR needs to pick more relevant artists - you're going to get us Morgan Wallen.
I don't think anyone with ears wants that to happen.
Idk man I feel like Morgan Wallen and Kyle Larson would really get along together.
Morgan Wallen sells out stadiums, not sure how that would be a bad thing, regardless of how you feel about his music.
Just dont have any chairs in any type of elevated surface
He’s too expensive. $4 million for 30 mins.
Morgan Wallen is a huge name and I’m not even a big fan, it’s just crazy how dismissive people are of his popularity
Being popular doesn't mean he's a good artist
As someone heading to the 500, I was really hoping for a more exciting pre-race concert.
I mean, I couldn't tell you who the last 10 pre race concerts were. Im just excited nascar is close to returning.
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
Tim Duggar
I’d rather have George Strait
That would almost get me to buy tickets to Daytona
https://preview.redd.it/hafeun04rscg1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=296d35499bba50cb4d255ac6de33c2e44a05d313
PS, not a football person but fuck Philly.
Well, good news, Chili Bowl starts tomorrow
That city is such a shithole because of their sports fans.
But I absolutely love the fact that the sports venues are together.
I like that too. KC is like that now but the Chiefs are moving to Kansas
Philly rules despite having Philly fans. It’s a testament to the city that it can overcome that disadvantage.
I love that city. The fans are nuts, but that’s the northeast for you.
Yeah I genuinely hate Philly sports fans but Philly as a whole is an incredible place and one of the best values for a major city in America.
Sorry but Go Birds!
Gross
Might be an unpopular opinion but I feel like if Daytona had something like “The Snake Pit” at Indy they’d get a new crowd of people in to party in the infield while the race goes on. There are a bunch of people I know that have been to the Indy 500 and now watch Indycar occasionally because they had a really fun time listening to EDM/Rock music in the infield and watching the cars fly by. There’s definitely enough space and you could do stuff on the Lake as well. Plus like with the Daytona 24 you could put up like carnival rides and whatnot. I’d totally do that for a year, especially if I’ve already seen the 500 from the grandstands.
Mind you I’m from NH so the NASCAR fans here are kinda half country fans and half city people who like Rock/EDM and NASCAR, it’s an odd mix but I love it.
I hope the orange man leading the country doesn’t attend
This is one of the acts Brad wanted. He wanted captain and Tennille so he could sing muskrat love to Joey, but they were booked up that day.
if it ain't S.O.A.D. then I don't want it
I was pulling for Dying Fetus but I would be content with SOAD
The average Nascar fan is in their 50s/60s so this will be a huge hit
Lol NASCAR, always on the cutting edge
Just be glad it doesn't fit the "country artist you've never heard of (or haven't heard of in 10 years) or a dad rock band 30 years past their prime" mold they've used for the past few decades.
You mean to tell me Tim Duggar isn’t America’s number one artist?
Or Tim Dugger
And the crowd goes meh.
Man it's so easy to upset country fans, lol
That's not too bad, I guess. Hadn't been a fan of hers since she ripped off Steve Earle to hit it big with "
Gasoline," edit: "Kerosene," but she apparently made good with him and she was pretty good during the Robert Earl Keen fundraiser show for Texas Hill Country this past summer.I usually enjoy the Bethune-Cookman Marching Band more than the big concert performers, though lol.
Ew.
Ugh no Limp Bizkit?
Waiting for the day when they finally get their shit together and have Sanguisugabogg perform
Can they pick someone who isn't a hillbilly country artist sometime?
You mean like Pitbull a few years ago?
I wouldn’t say she’s hillbilly.
But she’s very 2010 and hasn’t been relevant since Blake Shelton left her.
All country is hillbilly rednecks talking about MUH TRUK MUH BEER MUH GIRL MUH LEGS
DIRT ROAD BLUE JEANS
Go watch the Super Bowl
Give me 50, drake, no doubt, lady Gaga, Nelly, daddy yankee, Sabrina carpenter, bigxdaplug, metro boomin
Is she looking into team ownership too?
She’s washed
Who tf is that
Country singer from E Texas
Country singer 15 years past her prime
15 years is pushing it, wildcard in 2019 was a legitimately good album
She embodies a truck.
Isn't Lainey Wilson the one with the heaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaart like a truck?
Oh, sorry I get confused thought it was that person.
A relevant superstar that NASCAR paid to “entertain” race fans
/s
Gross.